Combination water dam and gravel stop



Aug. 20, 1963 w. P. HICKMAN COMBINATION WATER DAM AND GRAVEL STOP Filed Jan. 16, 1961 INVEN TOR. WILLIAM P. HIGKMAN ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,100,951 COMBINATION WATER DAM AND GRAVEL STOP William P. Hickman, 1360 E. Maple Road, Birmingham, Mich.

Filed Jan. 16, 1961, Ser. No. 82,911 5 Claims. (Cl. 50-66) This invention relates generally to building structures and refers more particularly to a combination water dam, gravel stop and facia for the edge of a flat roof deck.

One object of this invention is to provide an improved seal for the edge of a roof which will prevent water or gravel bitumen drippage down the faced the building.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for locking the facia in position along the edge of the roof deck.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination water dam, gravel stop and facia for the edge of a fiat roof deck which comprises a cant secured to the edge of the roof deck over which is laid the edge portion of the roofing material, a generally upright facia extending along the edge of the roof deck, and means for locking the f-adia in position including a flashing extending along and secured to the cant and having one edge engaging the facia. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination water dam, gravel stop and facia as described in the preceding paragraph in which the flashing is a resilient rocker-type member so formed that, when it is in its free state and engages the facia, its opposite edge is. spaced from the roofing material, but in which the flashing can be flexed from its free state by suitable fasteners tensioning its engagement with the facia. The fasteners thread through the cant and through the roofing material, and seals are provided for each fastener to prevent seepage of water or gravel bitumen through the holes in the roofing and cant, down the face of the building.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the line vention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds, especially when considered with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE '1 is a vertical sectional view, in perspective, showing one embodiment of my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view showing another embodiment of my invention.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a further modification.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and especially to FIGURE 1 thereof, the combination water dam, gravel stop and facia is in effect a border frame which extends about the periphery of a roof deck to contain the water and gravel bitumen on the top of the roof and preventit from spilling over the sides. The facia also provides a neat finished appearance.

The letter A denotes the base roof deck of a building and the letter B denotes a vertical member extending beneath the roof deck. An elongated sheet metal cant 10 is provided having avertical leg 12 extending above the roof deck and an inclined leg 14 extending at an angle in a downward direction from the upper edge of the vertical leg. The inclined leg terminates at the top of the roof deckA in a horizontal extension 16 in flush surface-tosurface engagement with the top surface of the roof deck and is secured thereto by fasteners 18. Additional fasteners 20 are provided to secure the vertical leg 12 of the cant flush against theedge of the roof deck A.

The roof deck is covered with layers of roofing material 22 overlaid by a layer of gravel bitumen 24. The

Patented Aug. 20, 1963 edge portion of the roofing material extends up along the inclined leg 14 of the cant. An'elongated facia 26 is provided which is in the form of a vertical sheet metal member having a down-turned upper edge portion 27 forming a generally downwardly opening channel 28 at the upper edge. The lower edge of the facia is formed with a downwardly and outwardly inclined portion 30 providing a drip which is return-bent to form an upwardly and inwardly opening channel 32. As seen in FIGURE '1, the facia member is formed of like longitudinally extending members 26a, 26b and Me, which overlap end for end. The facia elements 26a and 26c are rather long elements which extend along the front side of the cant, and the element 26b is simply a joint to close the gap between the adjacent edges of the long elements 26a and 260. The joint element 261; is shown on the inside of the elements 26a and 26c, but could just as well overlap on the outside. However, the inside lap shown in FIGURE 1 provides a neater appearance. In some instances, the joint 26b might be eliminated and the long elements 26a and 26c might overlap one another. All of the facia member elements have the same cross-section, as illustrated particularly with respect to element 26a in FIGURE 1.

A flexible rocker flashing in the form of an elongated metal strip is also provided, having the configuration shown in section in 'FIGURE 1. The upper edge 36 of the flashing 34- projects into the channel 28. The intermediate portion 38 of the flashing rests on or presses against the upper marginal portion of the roofing material, and the lower edge portion has a lip 40 which is turned downwardly as illustrated. i

In the normal, free or unflexed state of the flashing, with the upper edge 36 located within the channel 28 of the facia, the lower edge 40 is spaced above the roofing material. In other words, the flashing assumes the dotted line position shown in FIGURE 2. The flashing is then secured to the cant by screws 42 Which extend through holes in the flashing and through holes in the roofing material andinclined leg 14 of the cant. The screw heads press the portions of the flashing surrounding the holes therein tight against the roofing material, so that the flashing is bowed between the lip 40 and the intermediate portion 38, as illustrated. Washers 44 of neoprene or like sealing material surround the shanks of the screws between the flashing and the heads of the screws. The screw heads press the washer material tight against the flashing and squeeze the inner margins of the washer material through the holes in the flashing into sealing contact with the roofing material in the area around each hole therein. Hence the holes in the roofing material are sealed against the entrance'of water. This is very important, because if water could get into the holes in the roofing material it would seep through the holes in the cant and eventually drip down the face of the building creating an unsightly appearance. The lower edge of the lip 4% is also pressed tight against the roofing material to provide a further seal against the seepage of liquid. However, the primary seal for the holes in the roofing material is provided by the Washers 44. The generally upstanding lip40 has the further effect of providing a barrier against snow or water which might be driven by wind up the incline of the cant. This will prevent moisture firom reaching the area of the screw heads. The tension produced by the flexing of the flashing istransmitted to the upper edge 36 of the flashing to produce an upward tension on the facia. This is opposed by the inclined flange 48 on the lower edge of the vertical leg 12.0f the cant which projects into the channel 32.

No other means than the means described are provided for secufring the facia elements in position. They are held in tension along both the upper and lower edges. These elements are free to expand and contract longitudinally since they are free to slide relative to one another at the points of overlap. It might also be added that the flashing may be formed in overlapping longitudinally extending elements, rather than in one continuous element.

Theconstruction shown in FIGURE 2 is somewhat diiferent from, that described above. The roof deck A projects over and beyond the wall of the building B. A border framevmember C extends along theedge of the roof deck. The cant is, generally indicated at W and is of exactly the same construction as the cant do shown in FIGURE 1 except that'it does not have the lower flange 48. The facia 26 is exactly like the facia 26 shown in FIGURE 1. The rocker flashing 34- is exactly like the rocker flashing 34 described above.

.- The facia also includes a lower section Stl which is in I overhanging portion of the roof deck and its opposite end has a down-turned flange 6 2 which is disposed within a channel 64- formed in an angle bracket as secured to the underside of the roof deck.

The holesv in the roofing material are sealed by the washers 44 in exactly the same manner as described above in connection with FIGURE 1. .When the screws 42 are tightened, the portion of the flashing between the intermediate portion 38' and the lip 49' is bowed so that the washers are squeezed into the holes in the flashing to seal against the roofing material about the holes therein, and the lower edge of the lip is pressed tight against the roofing material. The upper edge of the flashing extends Within the upper channel in the upper facia member to tension the same. 7

It should be pointed out that the upper andlower fac-ia sections 26' and 50 are preferably also formedlof longitudinally extending elements which are overlapped end for end, as in the FIGURE 1 construction. Hence, the upper section 26' may be made up of rather long elements of like configuration with the space between their adjacent ends closed by a joint element similar to 26b in FIGURE 1, which may be on the inside as shown in FIGURE 1 or on the outside. Such a joint element is indicated at 26". The lower section 50 may be formed of like longitudinally extending elements having the cross-section shown in FIGURE 2, the space between the adjacent ends thereof being closed by a similarly shaped joint element'indicated at 50'. The joint element might overlap on the innersides of the long elements, or on the outer sides thereof. The elements of the upper and lower facia sections are held in position-by the means illustrated and described, and no other means are employed. Accordingly, the facia elements may expand and contract and their overlapping surfaces-may slide relative to each' other in response to the expansion and contraction thereof. With respect to both upper and lower sections 26' and 50, the joint elements may be omitted and the long elements thereof will then simply overlap as described in flashing and likewise through holes in the roofing material and in the leg 14 of the cant. The washers 44 are squeezed through the flashing holes by the screw heads into sealing engagement with the roofing material in the regions surrounding the holes therein. The portion of the flashing from the screw holes to the lower edge thereof is pressed flat against the roofing material and at the lower edge the flashing has a lip '73 which projects outwardly to form a barrier against snow or water which might be blown up the incline. .The facia is indicated generally at 26", which faoia may correspond to that of FIGURE 1 or FIGURE 2.

What I claim as my invention is: p

1. A combination water dam, gravel stop and facia for the edge of a roof deck, comprising a cant secured to the edge of the roof deck and having an inclined surface sloping upwardly and outwardly from the roof deck, roofing material laid over said roofrdeck having a marginal portion overlying said inclined surface of said cant, a generally upright facia member extending along the edge of the roof deck, said facia member having a downwardly opening channel above said cant, and means for sealing the marginal portion of said roofing material and for holding said facia member in position including an elongated flexible, resilient rocker flashing strip extending along said inclined surface of said cant in overlying relation to the marginal portion of said roofing material, said flashing strip having a longitudinally extending section which is concavo-convex in cross-section with the convex side facing toward the marginal portion of said roofing material, the intermediate longitudinal portion of said concave-convex section engaging the marginal portion of said roofing material, said, flashing strip engaging within the channel of said facia member with an upward pressure along the edge of said flashing strip at one'side of the intermediate portion thereof, and clamping means engaging said flashing strip at the opposite side'of said intermediate portion and pressing the same toward the marginal portionof said roofing material tending to straighten the cross-sectional outline .of said concavoconvex section and to tension the same, thereby to increase the pressure of engagement of said edge of said flashingstrip within said channel and of the intermediate portion of said concavo-convex section with the marginal portion of said roofing material.

2. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said flashing strip engages said facia member along one edge of said concavo-convex section, said flashing strip has an integral lateral extension along the opposite edge of 7 her in position.

4. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said 7 clamping means includes a fastener extending through aligned holes in said flashing strip, in the inclined surface of said cant and in the marginal portion of said roofing material, said fastener having a head overlying said flashing strip, and a, sealing washer between said head and said flashing strip, said fastener head engaging said washer and pressingthe same through the hole in said flashing strip and into sealing engagement with said marginal portion of the roofing material to seal the hole therein. 7

5. The combination defined in claim 2, wherein said extension of said flashing strip has an edge portion spaced from said concave-convex section engaging the marginal portion of said roofing material, and saidclamping means is between said concave-convex section and said edge portion.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Schurman May 30, 1939 6 Hanson Oct. 29, 1940 Ness July 29, 194-1 Dawson Feb. 14, 1956 Trestle Oct. 28, 1958 Reddy et a1. Dec. 12, 1961 

1. A COMBINATION WATER DAM, GRAVEL STOP AND FACIA FOR THE EDGE OF A ROOF DECK, COMPRISING A CANT SECURED TO THE EDGE OF THE ROOF DECK AND HAVING AN INCLINED SURFACE SLOPING UPWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY FROM THE ROOF DECK, ROOFING MATERIAL LAID OVER SAID ROOF DECK HAVING A MARGINAL PORTION OVERLYING SAID INCLINED SURFACE OF SAID CANT, A GENERALLY UPRIGHT FACIA MEMBER EXTENDING ALONG THE EDGE OF THE ROOF DECK, SAID FACIA MEMBER HAVING A DOWNWARDLY OPENING CHANNEL ABOVE SAID CANT, AND MEANS FOR SEALING THE MARGINAL PORTION OF SAID ROOFING MATERIAL AND FOR HOLDING SAID FACIA MEMBER IN POSITION INCLUDING AN ELONGATED FLEXIBLE, RESILIENT ROCKER FLASHING STRIP EXTENDING ALONG SAID INCLINED SURFACE OF SAID CANT IN OVERLYING RELATION TO THE MARGINAL PORTION OF SAID ROOFING MATERIAL, SAID FLASHING STRIP HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SECTION WHICH IS CONCAVO-CONVEX IN CROSS-SECTION WITH THE CONVEX SIDE FACING TOWARD THE MARGINAL PORTION OF SAID ROOFING MATERIAL, THE INTERMEDIATE LONGITUDINAL PORTION OF SAID CONCAVO-CONVEX SECTION ENGAGING THE MARGINAL PORTION OF SAID ROOFING MATERIAL, SAID FLASHING STRIP ENGAGING WITHIN THE CHANNEL OF SAID FACIA MEMBER WITH AN UPWARD PRESSURE ALONG THE EDGE OF SAID FLASHING STRIP AT ONE SIDE OF THE INTERMEDIATE PORTION THEREOF, AND CLAMPING MEANS ENGAGING SAID FLASHING STRIP AT THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID INTERMEDIATE PORTION AND PRESSING THE SAME TOWARD THE MARGINAL PORTION OF SAID ROOFING MATERIAL TENDING TO STRAIGHTEN THE CROSS-SECTIONAL OUTLINE OF SAID CONCAVOCONVEX SECTION AND TO TENSION THE SAME, THEREBY TO INCREASE THE PRESSURE OF ENGAGEMENT OF SAID EDGE OF SAID FLASHING STRIP WITHIN SAID CHANNEL AND OF THE INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF SAID CONCAVO-CONVEX SECTION WITH THE MARGINAL PORTION OF SAID ROOFING MATERIAL. 